National Register Record for CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Historic Name: CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Current Name: SAME
Address: 300 N WALNUT
City: OKLAHOMA CITY            County: OKLAHOMA
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH HAS LONG BEEN AN IMPORTANT SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CENTER TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN OKLAHOMA CITY. DESIGNED BY RUSSELL BENTON BINGHAM, A GRADUATE OF THE TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE AND A MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION, THIS TWO STORY WITH BASEMENT GOTHIC REVIVAL STYLE CHURCH IS CLAD IN BRICK WITH CAST STONE ACCENTS. BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE CHURCH, CALVARY HOSTED A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS AND SPECIAL GUESTS, INCLUDING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. IN 1958, A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM CALGARY INSTIGATED A SERIES OF SIT-INS AT SEGREGATED RESTAURANTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. PARTICIPANTS WOULD MARCH FROM THE CHURCH TO THE RESTAURANT, SIT AND WAIT TO BE SERVED, AND THEN MARCH BACK TO THE CHURCH AFTERWARDS. THIS EFFORT CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BY 1962, MORE THAN 175 LOCAL RESTAURANTS HAD OPENED THEIR DOORS TO BLACKS. DURING THE SIT-INS, THE CHURCH RECEIVED BOMB THREATS, BUT THE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CONTINUED. LISTED IN NATIONAL REGISTER 12/19/1978.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: RELIGION: RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE
Current Function: RELIGION: RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE
Area of Significance 1: ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK
Area of Significance 2: SOCIAL HISTORY
Architectural Style: GOTHIC REVIVAL
Architect: BINGHAM, RUSSELL BENTON
Year Built: 1900            Original Site: YES
Condition: SANCTUARY
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK
Date Prepared: 09/78